UK phone-hacking trial: Jury told not to use internet to read about Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson

The former News of the World editors both have close ties to British prime minister David Cameron.

AFP: Carl Court, Will Oliver

Jurors in the high-profile British phone-hacking case have been told that British justice is on trial, and they should refrain from using Google, Twitter or Facebook to read up on the case.

Judge John Saunders told the panel of nine women and three men they had to ignore the huge publicity surrounding the allegations to ensure the defendants, former News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, receive a fair hearing.

"In a way, not only are the defendants on trial but British justice is on trial," he said.

"Therefore it's extremely important that you follow the directions that I give you. They could not be more important that they are in this particular case."

The jury was also warned not to read the latest issue of satirical magazine Private Eye, which features Brookes on the cover and reads: 'Halloween edition: horror witch costume withdrawn from shops".

The judge made his comments after the panel was sworn in ahead of what could be a six-month hearing into allegations against the editors of Rupert Murdoch's now defunct tabloid.

Brooks and Coulson are accused of conspiring to illegally access voicemail messages on mobile phones belonging to politicians, celebrities, and victims of crime to obtain exclusive news.

The scandal sent shockwaves through the British establishment and shook Mr Murdoch's News Corp empire, revealing the close ties between press barons, police chiefs and senior politicians.

Both Brooks and Coulson have close links to British prime minister David Cameron.

Coulson used to work as Mr Cameron's media adviser, while Brooks - formerly a News Limited executive - is a family friend.

The two, who face trial with six others, deny all charges.

Some publicity 'offensive and demeaning'

Justice Saunders said there had probably been an unprecedented amount of material published about the phone hacking allegations as he delivered strict guidelines for the jury to follow, such as ignoring comments on social media about the trial.

A failure to do so could leave them in contempt of court and they could face prison themselves, he warned.

He described some material found online about the defendants as offensive and demeaning.

He urged the panel to ignore the current issue of the satirical magazine Private Eye, featuring former News International executive Brooks with a Halloween theme.

He said it was a joke in especially bad taste.

Brooks and Coulson stood next to each other as the charges against them were read out at London's Old Bailey court.

They are charged with conspiracy to illegally intercept communications and Brooks is also accused of two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by hampering the police inquiry.

Coulson is additionally charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

Joining them in the dock are Stuart Kuttner, the long-time former managing editor of the News of the World; Ian Edmondson, the tabloid's ex-news editor; Clive Goodman, the paper's former royal editor; Cheryl Carter, Brooks's personal assistant; Brooks's racehorse-trainer husband Charlie; and Mark Hanna, News International's head of security.